5 Reasons to Be Excited About Economy Class

We get it—there's just not a whole lot of good news out there these days regarding the economy cabin. Passengers have been dragged down aisles, basic economy fares are on the rise, seats are shrinking, and in some cases, you have to pay to even buy water !But despite the perception that economy will soon make public buses resemble five-star journeys, there are interesting developments making economy class better. In fact, there may never have been a better time to fly economy than the near future—and the present.

Flying Economy Is Cheaper Than Ever...

Sure, flying economy may never make the journey as much fun as the destination, but if current trends stick, you'll be able to get more bang for your buck—economy class being cheaper than ever is not just hyperbole, it's a fact. It's not at all uncommon to find $300 fares to Europe, such as Norwegian's current $99 one ways from New York to Dublin, or $400 fares to Asia, like Delta's $475 flights from Seattle to Shanghai on sale right now. These are all mere fractions of average costs in years past. (Condé Nast Traveler will even let you know when these exciting deals pop up.)

Airline Meals Are Actually Making a Comeback...

For years it was take, take, take, but now, complimentary meals are making an improbable, glorious comeback, and coming to an economy seat near you. Domestically, both American and Delta have recently announced plans to bring back the iconic "chicken or fish" option in flight, again offering meals on many of their longer transcontinental and regional U.S. services. These aren't the economy meals you remember, either: Delta has partnered with health food brand Luvo to create "flight fuel" menus specifically for the airline, offering a wide variety of wraps and snacks. And, if you're in Europe and don't mind shelling out a few extra bucks, you can now order a business class meal in economy, a trend that is slowly picking up: Austrian Airlines economy passengers can order special DO&CO business class meals à la carte at any point in flight, Air France offers a menu created by a Top Chef winner, which even includes an opulent caviar and champagne course, and British Airways allows guests to preorder "best of British" meals, such as Loch Fyne salmon, Herefordshire beef, and other delicacies.

Overhead Bins Are Getting Larger...

The struggle for many an economy class traveler is when to board, knowing that getting on early guarantees a spot for carry on but then you'll wait an eternity in an uncomfortable seat; or board last, fearing the dreaded bag tag, whereby carry on will be stored in the cargo hold below. But a solution is on the way: Even without new planes, manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus have designed greatly refurbished cabin experiences for airlines, with larger overhead bins. Specifically, Boeing's new "space bins" offer 50 percent more overhead space compared to the standard bins, while Airbus's designs claim to offer 60 percent more room. The "space bins" can be presently found on Alaska Airlines, with American and Southwest soon to join, as launch customers for the Boeing 737MAX. Airbus's larger bins are presently found on Delta flights operated by select A321s, and United is getting in on the game, too. Thankfully, no one has figured out how to squeeze in 60 percent more passengers...yet.

In Flight Entertainment Is Getting Interactive...

Did you know there are seat-back entertainment designs that allow you to play "Pong" against a neighbor, order champagne with the tap of a finger, or stream a movie along with anyone on the flight? If you haven't seen them, you soon will. Slimmer, lighter technology and faster processors have created a competitive environment of top electronics firms vying for the privilege of entertaining you, and airlines are all ears—you know, in hopes of distracting passengers from that whole "shrinking seat" thing. In fact, you may have already noticed some of them while ordering food on Virgin America or Norwegian, downloading cloud content on a JetBlue flight, or finding yourself immersed in a blissful digital sea of entertainment aboard one of Singapore Airlines' jet-lag reducing A350s. Contenders such as Thales Digital, Panasonic, and others are all looking to turn the airline seat into a two-way experience, with enhanced connectivity for all your devices and travel companions. Let's just hope your devices can continue to fly with you.

Biometric Boarding Is Coming...

No one enjoys the boarding process less than economy class passengers. As if walking through first class, pretending not to look around isn't bad enough, it is scientifically proven to make us angry—and is also painfully slow. In hopes of turning the walk down the aisle into a speedier version of its prior self, airlines are investing in biometric boarding, a technology much like that found in the sci-fi thriller Minority Report in which fingerprints are used as identification. Soon, there won't be anyone asking for your boarding pass, and that means economy passengers will spend less time in line or strapped in their seat, and more time enjoying the comforts of the ground. (See: 25 airport restaurants we love.) Airlines including JetBlue, Delta, and British Airways are testing biometric boarding gates, where information gained during the security screening process is used to automate boarding lanes. Using multiple lanes, several passengers can simultaneously scan their boarding pass, thus significantly reducing time spent.